Asian Pacific Heritage Month at the AHS Library

Please join us in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the AHS Library.

We have books that reflect many aspects of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: historical fiction, contemporary YA, fantasy, non-fiction and graphic novels. Special thanks to Angela Hong and Leanne Blum for their help, as leaders with the Asian Student Association and the Hapa Club. Here are a few AHS faves:

American Panda, by Gloria Chao
The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui
Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
Forward Me Back to You, by Mitali Perkins
Legend, by Marie Lu
I Believe In a Thing Called Love, by Maurene Goo
Meal, by Blue Delliquanti
The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri
Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, by Ken Liu
The Samurai's Garden, by Gail Tsukiyama
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See
Uprooted, by Albert Marrin

PTSA Seaking Treasurer for Next Year

Your hardworking and selfless PTSA is looking for a Treasurer for the 2019-20 school year. They are hoping to have someone claim the role by their final meeting on May 7th. Anyone in the community can join AHS PTSA and take on a leadership role.

Budgets and spending are on the minds of all AHS families this year. Here’s your chance to help one of our constituent groups be fiscally responsible… not only through your expertise, but also with your donation of time. Yes, it is a commitment, but you’ll help support students and teachers in a number of ways. Please considering volunteering for the position!

For more information, send an email to ahs-ptsa@ausdk12.org

Traffic, Safety and Temporary Housing Outreach Meeting

Albany Unified School District invites you to attend our Traffic, Safety and Temporary Housing Outreach Meeting.

Tuesday April 23rd, 2019

6-7:30 pm in the Albany High School Library

As we plan for the collaboration of Albany High and Ocean View’s 3rd-5th grade students during construction of the new elementary school, we invite the community to a discussion on 2019-20 temporary housing, traffic and safety plans.

Topics include:

• Elementary temporary classrooms, outdoor spaces and the timeline for completion of the AHS wing.

• Parent drop-off and pick-up times.

• Curb striping for parent drop-off and pick-up and the potential impact to parking and traffic on Portland, Key Route and Thousand Oaks.

For additional information, please visit the AUSD website under community and facilities news. AUSD Community and Facilities News

Interdistrict Transfer Space Available at AHS

Albany High School is now accepting interdistrict transfer applications for a limited number of 9th and 11th grade students for the 2019-20 school year! Click here for more info.

To obtain an interdistrict permit, please visit your district of residence for their specific interdistrict permit. Your district of residence will need to approve the permit before it can be submitted to AUSD. Once we have received your permit, your student will be added to the AUSD waitlist. We will notify high school families before the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

Mattress Fundraiser Canceled

Due to logistical conflicts, the mattress fundraiser has been canceled. Please consider making a donation to our hard working PTSA by visiting their page here.

Albany Track-Tacular Fundraiser This Saturday

Please come for a great new community event supporting our AHS Track Team! Concession stand will be open with snack and lunch selections. Stay local, enjoy Cougar Field, and RUN! Contact coach Jack for more information: jackwallace2980@gmail.com

Date: This Saturday, April 20
Registration: Opens at 9:30 am, April 20
First Event: 11 am -- The Masters Mile (40+ age--Let's show these kids who's still got it!)

Kids' Events!
11:45 am Kids' Fun Run (100 meter dash)
12:00 Kids' Treasure Hunt (candy hunt)

National Ocean Sciences Bowl Team Victorious in DC

Congratulations to the AHS National Ocean Sciences Bowl team for bringing home our second(!) national title.

Evan Zhong, Nathan Skinner, Ruby Tang, James Hort, and Maria-Sophia Fedyk returned home late Sunday night from Washington DC... victorious... as National champs! Thanks also to their coach, and AHS alum, Andy Marsh.

To qualify for Finals, our team had to first win their regional competitions. In total, more than 365 teams (made up of approximately 1,825 students representing 33 states) participated. At the National Finals, 24 teams went round after round in a double-elimination tournament.

The NOSB tests students' knowledge of ocean science topics, including cross-disciplines of biology, chemistry, policy, physics, and geology. Buzzer-style multiple choice and longer, critical thinking-based questions covered cross-disciplinary ocean science knowledge as well as topics relevant to the theme, Observe the Ocean, Secure the Future. These questions tested students on their knowledge of the technology needed to observe the ocean, how and why scientists gather ocean data, the challenges of processing such huge data sets, and how ocean observations address societal needs.

Teams also presented science recommendations on a piece of legislation in the Science Expert Briefing (SEB), a mock congressional hearing that enhances the critical thinking elements of the competition and focuses on real-world skills. Our team got first place in that too!

For their first-place win, the AHS NOSB team was awarded a special behind-the-scenes trip to Monterey Bay this summer, where they will visit many of the nearby oceanographic institutions and learn about local scientific and conservation efforts. And they got a big trophy.

Students: Voice Your Priorities for our New Superintendent

Albany Unified School District is searching for a new Superintendent as current Superintendent, Valerie Williams, will retire at the end of this school year. Please visit Superintendent Search 2019 to see more information about the search process and timeline. An essential part of the process is engaging with the Albany community to develop a profile of the most important qualities, skills, and characteristics for the new Superintendent. To that end, an extensive series of public stakeholder engagement meetings will be held on March 19, 20, and 22. Students, you are invited to participate on Wednesday, March 20 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in the AHS library.

Message Regarding Recent Events in New Zealand

Dear Albany High School community,

We are sadden by the recent events in New Zealand and our hearts and healing thoughts are with the victims, families and community during this difficult time. Hate acts and violence such as this can be countered with compassion and by promoting an understanding of empathy, social justice and efforts towards global acceptance for all people, faiths and beliefs. AHS has counselors should students need additional support during this time. For more information on talking to students about these issues, please visit the following link:

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/finding-resolve-after-the-new-zealand-mosque-shootings

Take care,
Alexia Ritchie
Principal

"This is Us" Festival This Saturday!